Medicinal compound



Patented Jan. 5, 1937 UNITED STATES MEDICINAL COMPOUND T Edward C.Moore, Flushing, N. Y.

No Drawing. Application September 23, 1933, Serial No. 690,765

5 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in the preparation of therapeuticoil-containing medicants generally and more particularly to a medicamentadapted for enteric assimulation.

An object of my invention is to provide a medicament comprising anadmixture of certain compounds adapted, when prepared as hereindisclosed, to react with the intestinal fluids so as to produce avaluable therapeutic effect.

Heretofore it has been proposed in preparing oils for medicinal use, toemulsify the oil, such as castor or cod liver oil, in the presence of anoxide of magnesia and reduce the resulting solid mass to a powder. Ithas also been proposed to provide medicaments devised for intestinalassimulation in the form of capsules having enteric coatings.

The present invention is directed to a medicament, capable of intestinalassimulation rather than the means by which it may be administered or bywhich it may be carried past the acidulated gastric juices of thestomach to the alkaline secretions of the intestinal tract. Ihavediscovered that oils such as the oil of santal may be better utilized asa therapeutic, when admixed with a resinous acid, such as abietic acid.Abietic acid, also known as sylvic acid is, in the pure state, ayellowish crystalline solid, having the empirical formula CzoHsoOz. Itis dibasic and may be obtained from the resin of the fir species,colophony, of which the compound abietic anhydride 0441-12604. is thechief constituent.

While the yellow leaflet crystals of abietic acid have a melting pointof 182 0., I have found that when mixed with the oil of santal, acomposite semi-solid mass of paste like consistency is produced at amuch lower temperature. 7

Oil of santal or sandal oil, also known as santalwood oil, is a thickyellow volatile liquid oil consisting substantially of three structuralisomers of santaline, the terpene santalol, santemol, and the estersantalyl salicylate. It is derived by steam distillation from santalumalbum and the medicinal properties whichitexhibits are probably due tothe presence of the salicylate ester. The oil of santal is a valuableremedy in the treatment of chronic and subacute inflammations andparticularly in the treatment of cases wherein the first period of acuteinflammation has passed. It is capable, in properly prescribed doses ofcausing systemic excitement.

Having prepared the semi-solid admixture of the resinous acid and oilyester, I add powdered extract of licorice or glycyrrhizin Cal-156018,glyccrime and light oxide of magnesia. The amorphous oxide derived fromcalcining the basic carbonate is found preferable to the crystallinemagnesium oxide.

This semi-solid admixture has the proper consistency around 16 to 18 C.to permit the application of an enteric coating. I have also found thatthe physical state of the resultant preparation is such that a firmgelatinous coating can be applied thereto and that capsules can be madein this way, which will be useful under very hot climatic conditions.Alternatively, the compound permits the use of a white or other coloredenteric subcoating over which a color or colorless gelatin coating maybe placed.

The resultant medicinal effects and unobvious therapeutic action arisingin part from the intestinal assimulation of an oil, such as the oneherein suggested or others of similar medicinal properties, is due tothe action in the intestinal tracks of the alkaline secretionconstituent, potassium bicarbonate. This compound, hydrolyzing basicly,forms the alkali salt of the resinous acid, as in this case, potassiumabietate. The alkali abietate is an emulsifying agent and together withthe extract of licorice or specifically the glycyrrhizin assurescomplete emulsification of the oil. Thus at the place of assimulation,there is oil emulsification with the composite therapeutic effects ofthe oil and alkali salt. It will be appreciated that the process ofdisintegration of the compound in the intestinal tract is gradual andpermits a better toleration of the medication, through a more uniformand complete assimulation of the santal oil.

While my invention is directed primarily to a medicament comprising anoil and a resinous acid, the acid upon reaction withthe alkalineintestinal secretions producing an emulsifying agent for the oil andthus providing for its bodily assimulation, the following table ofpercentage range of constituents which I have found particularlysatisfactory is given without limitation as to compounds or proportions:

Oil of santal 20% to 33%;% Abietic acid 20 to 33 Glycerine 3 to 5 Lightmagnesia oxide to 20 Extract of licorice to 25 While I have disclosedthe preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understoodthat these are but preferred embodiments which typify others in whichmay be incorporated the underlying features of this invention.Modifications may be made in the proportions of the 4. A medicamentcomprising oil of same], abietic acid, extract of licorice, light oxideof magnesia and glycerine.

5. A process for the preparation of a medicament, comprising intimatelyadmixing oil of santal and abietic acid in the presence of extract oflicorice, glycerine and light oxide of magnesia, the ingredients beingso proportioned as to produce a paste like mass and covering theresulting semi-solid mass with a gelatinous coating.

EDWARD C. MOORE.

